INDIANAPOLIS — In order to reach the Final Four, Duke must combat explosive and imposing challenges today in Louisville’s Russ Smith and Gorgui Dieng.

Smith, a high-scoring, risk-taking guard, has delivered outputs of 23, 27 and 31 points during Louisville’s advancement to the Midwest Region final.

He has shot 55.3 percent from the field during the NCAA Tournament, a notable increase from his 40.8-percent clip from the field combining the regular season and Big East Tournament.

“I’ve faced a lot of guys who are tremendous scorers,” Duke guard Rasheed Sulaimon said Saturday. “Russ Smith is definitely at the top of the guys I’ve had to guard this year.”

The Cardinals, winners of 13 games in a row (their longest streak since the 2008-09 season), depend on the lean, 6-foot-11 junior Dieng for rebounding (his 9.5 boards per game ranked second in the Big East) and shot blocking (his 258 career swats are second all-time at Louisville behind Pervis Ellison).

“He’s very long and athletic and I think he has a good motor,” Duke power forward Mason Plumlee said. “He plays hard and he’s a guy that can have a big impact on the game if you don’t match his own energy.

“But he’s not one of those guys that weigh 260 or 270, where they can just move you on the block.”

Dieng, dealing with a broken left wrist that kept him out of seven games earlier this season, missed the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament final, in which the Blue Devils beat Louisville 76-71 in late November.

“They didn’t have Dieng and he’s a big asset to their team,” Duke guard Quinn Cook said. “They have a different dimension with Dieng there.”